Hmm. That Murphy article was pretty "oh we're so special and groundbreaking and whatev" for me. But this bit was interesting:

Speaking of rocking out, “Wheels” also features the show choir’s first diva off, a battle royale between Rachel and Kurt. The idea was born when Colfer shared with Murphy how he had begged his high school drama department to let him perform his favorite song, “Defying Gravity,” and he was denied every year because he’s male.

I wasn't familiar with the song, but other than the key it was sung in it didn't strike me as particularly gendered. I certainly didn't think Kurt performing that would be more likely to subject his dad to slurs than, say, walking down the hall dressed as he normally is.

I'd like to read what some people in a wheelchair thinks about the whole "time in a wheelchair/song in a wheelchair" thing. My first reaction was, "At least it's not a fat suit." My second reaction was "Ally!fail." Anybody got links to a good disability blog post on the topic?

There's a number of news articles - it seems to have drawn attention more to the fact that the actor playing Artie is not disabled, rather than concern about the episode itself (which I haven't seen - I'm behind on Glee). See [link] (I love Robert David Hall to bits) and all manner of similar articles in newspapers all over the internet. For blog posts on the wider disability issue and Glee, the only ones I can find are the glorious Trouble in China at [link] and MANY other posts(she's really angry about Glee) and FWD/Forward at [link] (I haven't decided whether I agree with the post yet). I'll ask around the disability blog community to see if I can find any more specific posts about the most recent ep.

I'm only up to episode 5, but I'm nonplussed by Artie - nice to see a disabled character, would be better if he was played by a disabled actor, even better would be a wider representation of disability rather than focusing on wheelchairs (used by only 8% of the disabled population, in the UK at least) - but ultimately this is a comedy and they're out to have fun, not to change society single-handedly. In short, I have not made up my mind about the whole thing. (I might have to skip to this ep to think about it, especially if "time in a wheelchair" means 'empathy exercises', which are WIDELY discredited in the disabled community, and I'd like to know what Glee's take on this was.)

If my friends and I *ever* get round to the disability and cult film/TV podcast series that we've been planning for about a year now, I'm sure we'll talk about comedy, and Glee in particular.

(I might have to skip to this ep to think about it, especially if "time in a wheelchair" means 'empathy exercises', which are WIDELY discredited in the disabled community, and I'd like to know what Glee's take on this was.)

Their take was complete "oh, now I know how hard you have it" which, yeah. (And so was Murphy in that article, which is what I objected to.) The Sue storyline was actually handled with a lot more finesse. Speaking of which, while they did give us the sister as explanation, I notice that early in the ep Sue is apparently concerned about finals and that to win the judges will have to like them. I don't think the Becky storyline is unrelated to that either.

Seska, thanks for the links! I'll be interested to hear your opinion when you see the episode.

Although my understanding is all the other characters did need to be able to both sing and dance at their audition, why would they have looked for any number of qualified people who could sing and dance in a wheelchair?

Excellent point (made with sarcasm) from troubleinchina. I don't really buy Murphy's whole "we looked" thing. LOOK HARDER.

brenda, I agree with you about Sue's motivation(s).

Office: The teaser for last night's episode may have been the best two minutes so far this season. It's been too long since Jim messed with Dwight's mind.

Creed almost stole the show in only 5 seconds on-camera.

Ryan's outfit reached new levels of bad. And not in the Michael Jackson album way.

I am loving last nights The Office. "Strange world full of many smells."

Also, maybe it's just me, but I loved the discussion of all southern accents not sounding like Forrest Gump.

I know I'm behind, but I loved Wednesday's Glee. Kurt! I smish you, Kurt.

I missed Pam's exit until I watched 30 Rock tonight. So awesome.

Penny and Sheldon were hysterical in Big Bang Theory last night.